Effects of Ginkgo biloba on Diseases Related to Oxidative Stress.

Ginkgo biloba (GB) is one of the most widely used phytotherapeutic products in the world, and its extract has beneficial properties for the treatment of several pathologies, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, cataracts, hearing loss, myocardial lesion, hippocampus neuronal lesions, morphometry testicular changes, and liver damage. This review aims to investigate the effects of GB on diseases related to oxidative stress. Databases such as MEDLINE/PUBMED and EMBASE were consulted, and PRISMA guidelines were used to build the review. This plant has antioxidant properties since it regulates the expression of antioxidant enzymes positively and reduces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, contributing to the reduction of lipid peroxidation. It also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. In animal models, the use of GB can show positive effects on brain damage, neurodegenerative diseases, myocardial injury, and renal and liver damage. In humans, the positive effects were shown in diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic colitis. These effects are due to the presence of compounds such as bilobalide, isoramnetina, quercetin, kaempferol, and ginkgolides A, B, and C. For these reasons, GB can be a low-cost alternative to the therapeutic approach of several pathologies since it acts in the prevention, treatment, and inhibition of several complications of common comorbidities.

Curcuminoids from Curcuma Longa: New adjuvants for the treatment of crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?

Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) result from an overreaction of the bowel to multifactorial stimuli leading to discomfort, pain, and it is associated with high morbidity and lethality. The medications commonly used are expensive and associated with multiple side effects. Curcuma longa exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions and has shown positive effects on CD and UC treatment, possibly due to the presence of curcuminoids. The objective of this review was to evaluate the role of curcuminoids in the treatment of IBD. A search for articles associating curcuminoids and CD and UC was performed using MEDLINE-PubMed. It has been found that curcumin can reduce oxidative stress and inhibit the migration of neutrophils and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the intestine. It may also improve micro and macroscopic lesions, prevent apoptosis of intestinal cells and also induce the restoration of the mitogen-activated protein kinase immune reaction. As the incidence of CD and UC is growing in many populations, there is an urgency to find an appropriate and accessible therapeutic approach to improve quality of life of patients. The use of curcumin is cheap, efficient and associated with no side effects, and may become an alternative to the IBD treatment.